The report follows the 2008 killing of Maria Stubbings by her ex-boyfriend Marc Chivers, the 2011 fatal shootings of Christine Chambers and her two-year-old daughter Shania by David Oakes and the murder of Jeanette Goodwin at the hands of her ex eight weeks later.

In the report, HMIC inspectors said the force took steps to improve the way it handles such cases but said further work is needed to ensure the risks to victims are properly managed.

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A two-year-old boy slept through a car thief stealing his mother's silver Land Rover Freelander and driving off with him inside.

The toddler was fast asleep when his mother parked the car to deliver a package and left the engine running.

The horrified 32-year-old was at the door of a house handing over the parcel when she looked back and saw the suspect laugh at her, jump in the car and drive off from Kents Hill Road North, Benfleet, Essex, at 2.20pm on Friday.

The car was recovered shortly later in nearby Barncombe Close with the child still asleep.

The suspect fled and was not found despite Essex Police scrambling a search helicopter.

He was described as white, aged in his early 20s, clean shaven, and wore a black top with a light blue hood and dark trousers or tracksuit bottoms.